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The air temperature was 5 degrees Celsius, the water temperature was 10C, and the wind-chill factor was freezing.

But still, about 230 people turned up in true Taranaki hardcore spirit for what was the largest Classic Hits Mid Winter Swim in at least 15 years.

Classic Hits' Jordan McFadyen felt the big turnout may have been due to the fact that tickets to tonight's All Blacks test against France in New Plymouth were up for grabs, but said it was always a fun event - tickets or not.

Hopping in the brisk sea, however, was a different story. "That's never fun, you always get sore joints when you come out."

While many turned out in their traditional bathing suits, gorillas, sharks, aliens and Batman also participated.